Usman Nurmagomedov remains the PFL lightweight king. The undefeated Dagestani delivered yet another reminder of his dominance Saturday at PFL Dubai, choking out 2025 lightweight tournament winner Alfie Davis with a brutal third-round arm-triangle choke to defend his belt at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Nurmagomedov (20-0, 1 NC), the cousin of UFC lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov and younger brother of UFC contender Umar Nurmagomedov, dragged Davis (20-6-1) to the mat with a slick single-leg takedown along the fence, then snaked in the fight-ending choke amid a scramble. Davis defended valiantly but ultimately was lulled to sleep, forcing referee Kerry Hatley to halt the contest at the 4:41 mark of Round 3.
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“I won how I planned,” Nurmagomedov said post-fight. “It was a simple plan — make him tired, make him work, let him wrestle, grapple, and then the finish is going to come. Simple.”
Nurmagomedov, who entered PFL as the reigning Bellator lightweight champion, has now won seven consecutive title bouts between the two promotions, although Saturday’s result only officially counts as the first defense of his current PFL reign. The 27-year-old standout captured the inaugural PFL lightweight belt this past October with the second of his back-to-back victories over Paul Hughes.
In the afternoon’s co-main event, former Bellator champion Ramazan Kuramagomedov (14-0) won the vacant PFL welterweight title with a hard-fought unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46) over the previously unbeaten Shamil Musaev (20-1-1), despite suffering what appeared to be a broken arm.
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After the bout, the 29-year-old Kuramagomedov hinted toward a potential retirement from MMA.
“Now I am former Bellator welterweight champion, today is PFL welterweight champion. Maybe this is enough — I think was my last fight,” Kuramagomedov said.
“I was thinking about this before this fight — this will be my last fight. If I will win this title, last fight. Maybe, maybe.”
Check out full PFL Dubai results and highlights below.
Main card
Lightweight championship: Usman Nurmagomedov def. Alfie Davis via technical submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:41 of R3
Welterweight championship: Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Shamil Musaev via unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46)
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Welterweight: Abdoul Abdouraguimov def. Kendly St. Louis via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight: Salamat Isbulaev def. Jesus Pinedo via TKO (elbows) at 4:57 of R1 | Watch finish
Heavyweight: Pouya Rahmani def. Karl Williams via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:41 of R2 | Watch finish
Preliminary card
Lightweight: Amru Magomedov def. Kolton Englund via TKO at :37 of R1 | Watch finish
Bantamweight: Taylor Lapilus def. Kasum Kasumov via TKO at :47 of R3 | Watch finish
Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov def. Edgars Skrivers via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight: Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Amin Ayoub via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
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Women’s flyweight: Denise Kielholtz def. Antonia Silvaneide via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Light heavyweight: Luke Trainer def. Rob Wilkinson via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:48 of R1 | Watch finish
Light heavyweight: Khabib Nabiev def. Ahmed Sami via TKO at 2:26 of R2 | Watch finish
Middleweight: Jhony Gregory def. Haider Khan via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:18 of R1 | Watch finish
